When Shen Ling said these words, her tone was exceptionally calm.
It must be said that she had exceptionally good control over her emotions.
Perhaps... it's because of the deepest despair, knowing that shouting or crying won't do any good.
People who have no one else to rely on will only think about how to make things less bad in the first place when something happens.
Only small children, when they bump into something and hurt themselves, don't immediately get up from the ground; instead, they cry and wait for an adult to pick them up.
"How will you stop me?" Gu Mu looked at Shen Ling's innocent face in the moonlight and asked with a mixture of affection and pity.
He was an emperor.
An emperor who possesses supreme power.
If he wanted, he could kill Shen Ling's entire family instantly.
Even though Shen Ling is the female protagonist of this world, in ancient times, she was just a weak woman.
As long as Gu Mu places a curfew on her and sends experts to keep a 24-hour watch on Shen Ling, how can she stop herself?
Gu Mu said these things only to make Shen Ling accept the facts sooner. He touched Shen Ling's cheek with his hand: "You know, the people I want to kill will eventually die."
"The Empress Dowager is, the young emperor is, and this big fish in the capital will be no exception."
Gu Mu chuckled softly.
He felt a tear slide down Shen Ling's cheek and land on his hand that was touching her face.
It was warm and piping hot.
In stark contrast to Shen Ling's icy expression.
But Gu Mu's resolve remained unwavering.
Liking something is one thing, but there are some things you just have to do.
If you abandon what you should be doing just because you like it, you will eventually become a puppet of this world, and your end will be tragic.
Gu Mu refused to believe in evil and insisted on fighting against fate.
However, upon hearing Gu Mu's words, Shen Ling was not angry. She simply said in a soft tone, "If Your Majesty is willing, you may confine me to my quarters... I am grateful to Your Majesty for not executing me directly because of my treasonous words."
Shen Ling's tone was gentle, but her words began to show a growing distance. She gave a slight bow: "Your Majesty... should thank Your Majesty for sparing my life."
At this point, Shen Ling smiled, revealing her signature little tiger teeth.
It seems that he became much more obedient in an instant.
Just like when Gu Mu first met Chen Ling.
They are extremely tactful, yet also incredibly cunning.
All the previous recklessness and unbridled display of wickedness around him had vanished.
From then on, she no longer considered herself his Ling'er.
They were, one an emperor, the other an empress.
Between them lies the distinction between ruler and subject.
Gu Mu understood what Shen Ling meant. She didn't say she hated him, nor did she say she didn't hate him, but her attitude said it all.
For a moment, Gu Mu was somewhat annoyed, even though he knew that Shen Ling had done nothing wrong.
But... seeing Shen Ling deliberately drawing a line makes me feel very uncomfortable.
He would rather Shen Ling cry and make a scene in front of him, or even curse him, than do anything to her.
But she chose to do it in such a calm way.
Apart from her eyes being a little dimmer than usual, she wore a polite smile and spoke with perfect tact.
"Then, I will punish you by confining you to your quarters for six months, forbidding you from leaving Kunning Palace," Gu Mu said through gritted teeth.
At this time, confining Shen Ling in Kunning Palace is actually a form of protection for her.
Even if Shen Ling had other methods, she wouldn't risk her life herself.
As long as she is in the palace and Gu Mu is there, she is safe.
"Your Majesty, I will obey your decree." Shen Ling bowed again, then watched Gu Mu turn and leave.
As Gu Mu's figure receded into the distance, a hint of coldness gradually appeared in Shen Ling's originally dim eyes.
"Your Majesty, even though you have been unjust to me, I promise you I will give my second brother a gift to avenge us. I will do it."
"This is my last expression of affection for you."
From now on, mountains will be mountains, and seas will be seas, never to interfere with each other again.
Shen Ling felt that she no longer had the courage to trust anyone.
As Gu Mu was about to disappear from Shen Ling's sight, Shen Ling looked at Gu Mu's back one last time and gave him a genuine smile.
There was nothing left but darkness before my eyes.
Shen Ling looked up again and glanced at the bright moonlight.
Today is another full moon.
She turned around and slowly walked towards Kunning Palace.
A gentle breeze lifted her thin clothes, making her appear particularly desolate.
But only she knew of this desolation, only she understood it.
When Shen Ling returned to Kun Ning Palace, Youyou noticed that something was wrong with her expression.
As early as when Gu Mu's palace caught fire, Youyou ran out to help others put out the fire.
Later, it was learned that Shen Ling and Gu Mu had spent time alone together.
Seeing Shen Ling's expression now devoid of its usual vitality, it was as if she had just married into the royal palace.
Youyou asked with concern, "Your Majesty, did you have a fight with His Majesty?"
Shen Ling slowly turned her pupils and glanced at Youyou. All her thoughts were hidden in her heart and not shown on her face.
However, the light that once radiated from happiness has vanished.
This feeling can only be felt by those who are very close to you.
Yoyo is someone Shen Ling is particularly close to.
But Chen Ling just smiled slightly, a very gentle smile, and her tone was also very soft: "No, it's just that it's late at night and I'm a little tired."
"I want to rest early, Yoyo, you should rest early too."
Yoyo could only nod: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
She followed behind Shen Ling, escorting her back to her room.
For some reason, she always felt that the Empress seemed no different from usual, yet something about her seemed different.
Youyou had experienced this feeling once before, when Shen Ling had just married into the Prince's Mansion.
"Am I being too sensitive?" Youyou scratched her head, her little face scrunched up in confusion.
This system is such a surprise.
Just now, after Gu Mu finished speaking with Shen Ling and turned to leave,
As they walked, the system suddenly emitted another notification sound.
[The male and female leads occasionally engage in a love-hate relationship. Many men can make the female lead laugh, but few can make her cry. Congratulations, host, your male lead value has increased by 3. Currently, the male lead's male lead value is 7, ranking first.]
[Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: The Amazing Excavator 1]
Gu Mu knew that when he increased his male lead value and ranked first in the male lead value, he would receive a system reward.
However, the system rewards are much scarcer now.
They used to have everything, but now there's only one.
Gu Mu looked at his inventory and saw that an excavator had been added, but the infinity symbol in the upper right corner had disappeared, replaced by a bare number 1.
"But... what the heck???"
"I get a reward even if I break up with the female lead???"
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